Als drop Bombers in opener
WINNIPEG — New headcoach. Same old Alouettes. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
The Dan Hawkins era began Thursday night in auspicious fashion, with Montreal outscoring the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 38-33 in the teams’ regular-season opener before a capacity crowd of 33,500 at brand spanking new Investors Group Field.
There was plenty of offence by the Als, marginal defence and some special teams play that was both good and bad. Montreal allowed a punt-return touchdown but also returned one to the end zone.
The Als were dreadful in the third quarter, being outscored 20-1.
The Bombers took the second-half kickoff and on the first play, quarterback Buck Pierce connected with Jade Etienne for a 65-yard pass. On the next play, Pierce found Clarence Denmark for an eightyard touchdown at 1:11.
Demond Washington then erupted for an 80-yard puntreturn touchdown at 3:07. Washington appeared trapped in the middle of the field amid numerous bodies, only to break loose, cut to the right and find open field for the major.
The two scores provided the Bombers with their first lead at 27-23. Special teams were one of the Als’ Achilles heels last season, with Montreal allowing three punt-return touchdowns. Obviously, there’s work that remains to be done under new special teams coordinator Ray Rychleski.
And the Als’ defence, under new co-ordinator Noel Thorpe, appeared porous on numerous occasions as well, although they spent too much time on the field in the third quarter as Montreal’s offence couldn’t get untracked.
Veteran quarterback Anthony Calvillo, only the seventh player in Canadian Football League history to play 20 seasons, hurt his right hand in the third quarter when he was hit and fell backward while completing a pass to S.J. Green, but shook off the injury and continued. Following a Geoff Tisdale interception, Chris Jennings scored on a three-yard run for Montreal at 3:05. Tyron Carrier then returned a punt 77 yards for an Als touchdown at 4:50.
It was the first punt-return score by a Montreal player since Larry Taylor’s 68-yarder against Saskatchewan on Aug. 21, 2009. Justin Palardy added three field goals for Winnipeg, including a 48-yarder late in the third quarter. He also connected from 23 and 35 yards. The Als and Bombers meet next Thursday at Molson Stadium in Montreal.